The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Sen. Michael Nnachi has called for a reform of the Act governing the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission to make it a revenue-generating agency.
Senator Nnachi stated this at an oversight visit by the Senate Committee to the Commission in Abuja.
The lawmakers remarked that studying NiDCOM’s activities, one area that is critically needed is funding to help it respond swiftly to the plethora of complaints and crises brought to it by Nigerian nationals abroad. To him, the “budget allocated is insufficient for the nature and volume of work carried out by the Commission”.
Speaking further, the Senate Committee advised that the Commission should amend the Act which restricts certain activities and means of revenue for the Commission, and create the optimum capacity for NiDCOM to carry out its duties efficiently and without further hindrances.
Hon. (Dr) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, commended the Senate Committee for their concern and support towards the Commission adding that the Commission is actively ready to work more inclusively with the Committee in all her activities and events especially the upcoming National Diaspora Investment Summit scheduled for 15th to 17th November 2022.
Dabiri-Erewa, expressed her confidence that this time around, the requests of the Commission will be favourably answered at the end of the budget defense and will catapult NiDCOM’s engagements with her diaspora for national development.
